Folding ironing board



Dec. 15, 1931. C, A. FORNEY FOLDING momma BOARD Filed March 115, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 15, c A, FORNEY 1,836,913

FOLDING IRONING BOARD Filed March 13. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 44 m Hm...mu

6 I IHIHH'" '17 M a 7 ML w INVENTOR.

[3 a1 H FDPTLEH ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES can A rommx, or PERU, INDIANAFOLDING IRONING BOARD Application filed March 13, 1929. Serial No.846,887.

This invention relates to improvements in ironing boards or tables.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improvedcollapsible leg construction for supporting ironing boards or tables.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved legconstruction for that type of iron table set forth in my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 189,365,

filed May 6, 1927, and embodying improvements thereover in the means forstabilizing the lateral and longitudinal positioning of the leg when ina set-up position.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of improved ironingboard and leg construction, showing the leg construction extended andsupporting the board.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the improved table construction,showing the leg construction collapsed upon the board portion thereof.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on thelinev 4-4.- of Figure 1'.

Figures 5 and '6 are bottom plan view showing successive steps in theextension of the legs for table supporting purposes.

Figure 7 is an enlarged view showing the table connected portion of oneof the leg constructions with the arts positioned as shown in Figure 5,and prior to full extension of the legs.

Figure 8 is a View showing the arts of Figure 7 in their final adjustedan braced relation, when the legs are in their triangular relation shownin Figure 6, for table suport. p Figuer 9 is an enlarged sectional viewtaken substantially on the line 99 of Figure 8.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generallydesignate the improved ironing board or table construction, which mainclude the ironing board or table proper having le constructions C andD foldably 35800181185 therewith.

The ironing board or table portion B is of course of ordinaryconstruction, elongated and preferably of wood.

The leg construction C preferably comprises the leg members 15 and 16,of any approved material, having bolts or pins 18 in the upper endsthereof loosely bearing at 66 the inner sides of the legs 15 and 16, inthe depending ears 19 of an inverted U-shaped bracket 20 which is boltedor otherwise secured at 21 to the board B on the under surface thereofand at one end thereof. This 70 type of pivot connection is shown inFigure 3, and is very economical; the facing ends of the bolts beingsufliciently long that they have an oscillative or rather universalbearing in the openings of the depending ears 76 19. This permits theleg members 15 and 16 to move towards and away from each other at theirfree ends, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the board, and permitsthe legs 15 and 16 to be swung to collapsed 80 position beneath theboard B parallel therewith, or to an extended substantially normalposition with respect thereto.

In order that the leg members 15 and 16 may be properly braced when inan extended downwardly divergent relationship for supporting the ironingboard B, that is, in the position shown in Figure l,'it is preferred toprovide braces 25 and 26, each of which includes a major portion 27pivoted at its lower end at 28 on the rear surface of one of the legs 15or 16, as the case may be, and

a minor portion or piece 29 pivotally connected at 30'0n the rearsurface of the under leg 15 or 16, as the case may be, at a loca-- tioncloser to the pivot of the legs 15 and 16 of the pivot location 28 abovedescribed. The portions 27 and 29 are relatively pivoted at 31, at theirproximate ends. Each of the braces 25 and 26 thus includes a pair ofends of the latter. The leg is relatively pivoted parts, one of which isconnected at its free end to one of the legs and the other of which isconnected at its free end to the other of the legs, so that the parts ofeach brace when extended and the legs 15 and 16 in braced boardsupporting position will be diagonally arranged. The braces 25 and 26cross each other in an X- shaped relation. The portions of the braces 25and 26 bend at their pivot 31 in the direction of the longitudinal axisof the board, to permit the legs 15 and 16 to be colla sod from adivergent position to a position w iich will enable them to be collapsedbeneath the board. This is part of the leg construction set forth in myco-pending application and need not be further referred to, except tostate that asubstantially U-shaped guard 35 is provided for each brace25 and 26, at the pivot 31 thereof, to limit the bracing position of thebraces 25 and 26, and permit the same to be collapsed in one directionon lly.

he leg construction D comprises a single supporting leg 40, pivotallyconnected b means of a horizontal pin 41 to the depen ing ear portionsof spaced angle clips 42 attached to the under surface of the ironingboard B, substantially midway between the ivoted so that it may becollapsed parallel eneath the ironing board B, or extended downwardly ina divergent relation, at an acute angle with respect to the plane of theironing board B, in a sloping relation away' from that end to which theleg construction C is pivoted, as shown in Figure 1. As is shown inFigure 9, a stop block or cleat 44 is secured at 45 on the under surfaceof the board B, rearwardly of the pivoted connection 41'of the leg 44;the said block 44 having a forward beveled edge-47 against which the topedge of the leg 40 abuts when in position, to support the board B.

The leg constructions O and D are connected for synchronous collapsingand board supporting movements by means of a link construction 50, whichconsists of lengths of wires 51 and 52 connected at their forward endsby a cross portion 53 which is pivoted in a socket 54 upon the free endof the leg 40; the wire lengths 51 and 52 extending rearwardly and attheir opposite ends being inturned and pivoted at 54 and 55 respectivelyto the legs 15 and 16, closer to the ivot ins of said legs than theirfree ends. he pivot connections 54 and 55 are preferably detachable, andthe wire portions 51 and 52 of the link construction 50 are adapted toextend parallel along the outer sides of the legs 15 and 16respectively, when in collapsed position beneath the board; the linkconstruction 50 when the legs are in a setup position extendingdiagonally downward from the upper portion 0 the leg construction C tothe lower end of the leg 40, as shown in Figure 1. The connections 54and 55 are of course )ivotal, so that merely by movement of the egconstruction C, the leg member 40 will be moved to an extended orcollapsed relation therewith, or vice versa.

A releasable bracing construction is provided, to releasably brace theleg constructions in an extended rigid relation. This bracingconstruction 60 includes brace members 61 and 62, preferably of wood,pivoted by pins 64 to the inner sides of the legs 15 and 16, atlocations between the respective pivots 28 and the respective pivots 54and 55 of the link construction 50. The brace members 61 and 62 extendin the general direction of the pivot of the leg 40, and near their freeends they are relatively connected by means of a flexible wire link 65.This link 65 includes the side portions 66 and 67, which are relativelyconnected at 68 and pivoted on a clip 69 secured to the under surface ofthe board B, along the medial line thereof, and spaced forwardly fromthe pivot connection of the leg 40. This U-shaped link 65 at the freeends of the portions 66 and 67 thereof is provided with oppositelyturned feet 70, pivoted in the brace members 61 and 62 a short distancefrom the free ends of said members 61 and 62. The U-shaped link 65 is ofsuch nature that the portions 66 and 67 may flex, and the portions ofthe brace members 61 and 62 from their pivot connection 70 to the freeedges 73 of said brace members, lie in spaced relation laterallv of theportions 66 and 67, as shown in Figure 7 of the drawings. 1

A pivoted cross clip is bridged between the connections 70; the saidclip 80 being of U-shaped formation, and having spaced ears at the innersides of the brace portions 61 and 62, pivoted to the connections 70;the said body of the cross clip 80 lying to the rear of the leg 40, andbeing adapted to be braced thereagainst, as shown in Figure 9 of thedrawings when the legs are in a setup position. Furthermore, this clip80 limits the spreading movement of the brace members 61 and 62, andenables them to function in a proper bracing relation. To better bringout this relation of parts, it should be observed that the legs C and Dare initially extended to the position of parts shown in Figure 5. inwhich case the leg 40 of the construction D is fully extended, and thelegs 15 and 16 are extended, but not laterally moved to their fullposition. In this position of parts'as shown in Figure 5, the bracemembers 61 and 62, and the other connection of parts will be as shown inFigure 7. Moving the free ends of the legs 15 and 16 apart to theposition shown in Figure 6, so that the braces 25 and 26 therefor mayhold them in such extended relation, causes the brace members 61 and 62to pivot on the ends of the cross brace so that the free end portions ofthe brace members 61 and 62 beyond the clip 80 will move from theposition shown in Figure 7 inwardly to the position shown in Figure 8.During this movement said end portions of the braces 61 and 62 will moveinto en agement with the upper surfaces of the sicIe portions 66 and 67of the connecting link 65, causing them to be distorted slightly to theposition shown in Figures 8 and 9, and enable a better locking action ofthe parts, to prevent any free play or lost motion in said parts, andefficiently bracing the same. Under these circumstances it should benoted that the pivot connections 7 0 lie inwardly of a straight linedrawn between the pivot'of the link 65 on the clip 69 and the pivots'ofthe respective braces 61 and 62 at 64 upon the legs 15 and 16. Therewill thus be o tendency of the braces 61 and 62 to move 511m theirbracing relation, but there will be a firm tendency during support ofthe board to engage the cross clip 80 against the leg 40, to enal ile agood bracing of parts. In this conne'g tion it should be noted that thehead 511 f: a screw or member is positioned on the leg 40 to prevent thestop 80 from falling from the position in which the braces 61 and 62 arelocked past their dead center position.

Furthermore, as an important aid in the bracing of the parts, a stopcross cleat is provided, secured at 91 in a transverse relation upon theunder surface of the board B,

at a location between the pivots of the members 65 and leg 60 ontheboard, and at a posi tion so that the free ends 73 of the braces 61 1and 62 will engage thereagainst when the legs are in a full extendedrelation, to relieve strain upon the connecting membenfiii, and enable avery rigid bracing of parts. This can very well be understood fromFigures 8 and 9 of the drawings.

The parts collapse as shown in Figure 2, with the braces 61 and 62collapsed parallel at the inner sides of the legs 16 and 15respectively. The leg 40 collapses along the longitudinal center of theboard B,,and said leg is provided with a latch 98 pivoted between itsends at 99 and movable to a position where it will transversely engagethe collapsed braces 61 and 62 and the legs 15 and 16, as shown inFigure 2. When it is necessary to set up the board, the latch 98 isswung to a positlon in alignment with the leg 40, and by grasping eitherof the legs 15 or 16, and moving the same to the position shown inFigure 5, the leg 40, brace constructions 50 and 60 will be movedtherewith to the position shown in Figure 5. The legs 15 and 16 are'thenspread apart and braced with the braces 25 and 26 extended, at theposition shown in Figure 6, and this will move the braces 61 and 62 neartheir pivotal ends into the rigid bracing and securing relation shown inFigures 8 and 9 and above described. When the leg constructions arebeing collapsed it is necessary to collapse the braces 25 and 26, swinthe legs 15 and 16 inwardly together, am? lift upwardly upon either ofthe braces 61 or 62, to move them past a dead centered position betweenthe end pivots of the brace construction 60, and to lift the crossdetent 80 alon the leg 50 past the retainin head or mem er 85. The legswill then co lapse into the same plane, and in this connection it is tobe noted that the legE l'Q, the braces- 61 and 62; the legs 15 and 16{and the wire braces 51 and 52 of the linkgQsf-all; collapse in the sameplane parallel immediately beneath the board B, and arelatchedifthereagainst by the latch 98 above described.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be madeto the form of invention herein shown and described, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claini;-:;

1. In an ironing table, a board, a pair of legs pivoted to the board forcolla sing thereupon and movable transversely 0% the board, collapsiblebrace means to positivel hold the pair of legs extended transverse y ofthe board, a single leg pivoted u on the board along the medial linethereo spaced from the pivot location of the first mentioned legs, apair of brace links pivoted, one to each of the first mentioned pair ofle s, a wire brace 'link pivoted to the board an pivotally connectedwith the pair of brace links a short distance inwardly of the ends ofthe latter so that when the first mentioned pair of legs aretransversely extended in a braced relation by said brace means firstmentioned, the

ends of said pair of brace links will move against the wire brace linkbetween its pivot connections and tension the same in a better bracingrelation, and means connected between the pair of brace links forbinding against the single leg when all of the legs are extended.

2. In an ironing table, aboard, a pair of legs pivoted to the board forcollapsing thereupon and movable transversely of the board, collapsiblebrace means to positively hold the pair of legs extended transversely ofthe board, a single leg pivoted upon the board along the medial linethereof spaced from the pivot location of the first mentioned legs, apair of brace links pivoted, one to each of the first mentioned pair oflegs, a wire brace link pivoted to the board and pivotally connectedwith the pair of brace links a short distance inwardly of the ends ofthe latter so that when the first mentioned pair of legs aretransversely extended in a braced relation by said brace means firstmentioned the ends of said pair of brace links will move against thewire brace link between its pivot connections and tension the same in abetter bracing relation, means connected between the pair of brace linksfor binding against the single leg when all' of the legs are extended,and a stop cleat on the board with which the free ends of the pair ofbrace links engage to lock the legs in a braced extended relation.

3. In an ironing table, a board, a pair of legs pivoted to the board forcolla sing thereupon and movable transversely o the board, collapsiblebrace means to positively hold the pair of legs extended transversely ofthe board, a single leg pivoted upon the board along the medial linethereof spaced from the pivot locations of the first mentioned legs, apair of brace links pivoted, one to each of the first mentioned pair oflegs, a wire brace link pivoted to the board and pivotally connectedwith the pair of bra'celinks a short distance inwardly of the ends of'the latter so that when the first mentioned air of legs are transverselyextended in a raced relation by said brace means first mentioned theends of said pair of brace ,links will move against the wire brace linkbetween its pivot connections and tension the same in a better bracingrelation, means connected between the pair of brace links for bindingagainst the single leg when all of the legs are extended, a stop cleaton the board with which the free ends of the pair of brace links areengageable to lock the legs in a braced extended relation, and a bracinglink pivotally connecting the pair of legs to the lower end of thesingle leg.

4. In an ironing table, a board, a air of legs pivoted to the board forcol apsing thereupon and movable transversely of the board, colla siblebrace means to rigidly hold the pair 0 legs relatively extendedtransversely of the board, another leg pivoted upon the board spacedfrom the mounting of the first mentioned legs, a pair of brace linkspivoted, one to each of the first mentioned pair of legs, a flexiblewire brace pivoted to the board at one end and pivotally connectedremote therefrom to the pair of brace links a short distance inwardly ofthe ends of the latter so that when the said pair of legs aretransversely extended in a .braced relation by said brace means firstmentioned the ends of said pair of brace links will move against thewire brace between its pivot connections and laterally flex and tensionthe same in a bracing relation.

CAL A FORNEY.

